CHEATER Decadent Mashed Potatoes

CHEATER Decadent Mashed Potatoes

4 trays Bistro brand Mashed Potatoes (Costco)
¾ cups Butter (1 1/2 sticks)
1 package (8 Oz.) Cream Cheese, Softened
½ cups (to 3/4 Cups) Half-and-Half
½ teaspoons (to 1 Teaspoon) Lawry's Seasoned Salt
½ teaspoons (to 1 Teaspoon) Black Pepper

Dump the mashed potatoes out of their containers into a large dutch oven. On Thanksgiving, we put them into our 7 QT crock pot. Break the potatoes up over medium heat.

In a separate smaller pot, add 1 ½ sticks of butter, an 8-ounce package of cream cheese and about ½ cup of half-and-half,  ½ teaspoon of Lawry’s Seasoning Salt and ½ a teaspoon of black pepper. Heat this up so you are not mixing cold ingredients into the warm potatoes.

Add warm liquid mixture to the potatoes and stir to incorporate, place in a medium-sized baking dish. Throw a few pats of butter over the top of the potatoes and place them in a 350-degree oven and heat until butter is melted and potatoes are warmed through.

OR, if you are serving them straight from the crock pot like we do, just add the warm liquid to the potatoes, stir to incorporate and set on low for as long as you need to!!

Thanksgiving Drink

Making this note for me and my old, forgetful brain!!!

A couple years ago, I made a "Thanksgiving drink" and I have ZERO recollection what it was, what it tasted like, drawing a total blank. As Thanksgiving approaches, the kids have been talking about it and asking if I was making it again this year. As I have no recollection of even making it (LOL) I've been asking everyone if they remembered what was in it - what it looked like, what it tasted like...

My son came home from school and told me EXACTLY what was in it because he loved it so much he made it for himself and his friends last year for Friendsgiving.

Thanksgiving Drink
Cranberry Sprite
Limes
Lemons
Whole cranberries

Pour Cranberry Sprite into your best punch bowl. Slice the fruit into rounds. Float the rounds on top, add cranberries and serve!!

Corned Beef and Cabbage with The Sauce

Corned Beef and Cabbage with The Sauce

Corned Beef 

Cabbage

The Sauce

1 T butter

2 T flour

1 T red wine vinegar

1/2 c sour cream

2 T course dijon mustard

horseradish to taste

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk flour into melted butter until dissolved and bubbling, about 1 minute. Add reserved cooking liquid and vinegar to butter-flour mixture; cook, stirring frequently, until sauce is slightly thickened, about 4 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and whisk sour cream and mustard into sauce. Serve sauce alongside corned beef and vegetables.

Serve with Mashed Potatoes!!! 

Couscous Greek Salad

Couscous Greek Salad

3 c cooked couscous
2 tbsp. Capers
A pinch of dried Sriricha
1/3 c. Lemon olive oil
1/2 c Pesto
1 can artichoke hearts diced (I used non marinated)
1/3 c red or green onion diced
1/2 c each Kalamata olives, pepperoncini peppers, cherry tomatoes (rough chopped)
4 oz. Salami, sliced thin
1 tbsp dried oregano
1/2 c chopped fresh parsley

Mix all together and chill until ready to serve.

Garnish with feta or Parmesan if desired.

Fall Kale Salad

Fall Kale Salad with Sweet Maple Dressing

1 bag kale
1 large sweet potato, cubed and boiled
1 seeded pomegranate
1/3 cup crumbled feta
1/3 cup blanched almonds
2 cups grilled chicken

Sweet Maple Dressing
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
3 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp minced garlic cloves

Layer the salad ingredients first kale, then other toppings.
For the dressing, add all ingredients to a blender and blend well, store in an airtight jar in refrigerator
Drizzle kale on salad and mix. Or allow other to dress their own salad.

Coconut Cereal Treat Mix

Coconut Cereal Treat Mix 

12 oz or 1 box Golden Graham Cereal
6 oz or 1/2 box Rice Chex Cereal
6 oz or 1/2 box Corn Chex Cereal
3 cups Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
2 cups Unsalted Cashews
2 cups Slivered Almonds
1 cup Cold Pressed Coconut Oil
1 1/2 cups Honey
1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 tsp Almond Extract

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large bowl (I'm talking GIANT size bowl, or split between 2 bowls), combine cereals, nuts and coconut. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan, melt coconut oil and honey together. Add salt and almond extract. Bring to boil over medium heat.
Pour over cereal and mix until cereal is coated.
Pour cereal onto 2 baking sheets or parchment paper and allow to cool.
Store in an airtight container.

Disney Monte Cristo Slider Copycat

Disney Monte Cristo Slider Copycat

12 sweet dinner rolls
½ cup raspberry preserves
½ lb deli turkey sliced
½ lb deli ham sliced
6 slices Swiss cheese slices halved
½ cup butter melted and divided
1 egg beaten
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1 Tablespoon mayonnaise
½ Tablespoon powdered sugar for garnish
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Slice rolls horizontally (keeping them connected) and place in the bottom of prepared baking dish.
Spread raspberry preserves on top of the bottom half of the rolls.
Layer with turkey, ham and cheese.
In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup melted butter, egg, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard and mayonnaise. Spread mixture on the inside of the top half of the rolls and place on top of the sliders in the pan.
Brush remaining 1/4 cup melted butter on top of rolls.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the tops of the rolls are golden brown and cheese is melted.
Remove from oven, garnish with powdered sugar, cut into individual sandwiches and serve.